The Beach | |
 The exterior of Jones Beach Theater,c. 2007 | |
 Interactive map of Jones Beach Theater | |
| Former names | New Jones Beach Marine Stadium (1952–1953) Jones Beach Marine Theater (1954–1994) Jones Beach Amphitheater (1994–2000) Jones Beach Theater (2000–2002) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1000Ocean Parkway Wantagh,NY 11793-4800 |
| Location | Jones Beach State Park |
| Coordinates | 40°36′04″N73°30′08″W / 40.60101°N 73.50232°W /40.60101; -73.50232 |
| Owner | NYS OPRHP |
| Operator | Live Nation |
| Event | various |
| Seating type | outdoor ballpark styled chairs |
| Capacity | 15,000 |
| Construction | |
| Built | October 1949 |
| Opened | June 26, 1952 |
| Renovated |
|
| Expanded |
|
| Construction cost | $4 million ($52.9 million in 2024 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | Robert Moses |
| Website | |
| parks | |
Jones Beach Theater is an outdooramphitheatre atJones Beach State Park inWantagh, New York. It is one of three major outdoor arenas in theNew York metropolitan area, along withForest Hills Stadium in Queens, and thePNC Bank Arts Center near theJersey Shore. JBT is managed byLive Nation.[2] The theater was designed to specifications provided byRobert Moses, who createdJones Beach State Park.[3]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(August 2025) |
Opened in June 1952 as the New Jones Beach Marine Stadium, the venue originally had 8,200 seats and hostedmusicals.[4] Moses had several boxes designated for his own use, and Moses' friendGuy Lombardo performed often in the early years.
The opening show was theoperetta extravaganzaA Night in Venice byJohann Strauss II, produced by film producerMike Todd, complete with floating gondolas and starringEnzo Stuarti,Thomas Hayward, Norwood Smith andNola Fairbanks.[5] During one of these Lombardo performances, the early phonograph recording starBilly Murray died of a heart attack in 1954.[6]
Lombardo's final show was the 1977 production ofFinian's Rainbow, withChristopher Hewett in the title role. After Lombardo's death in 1977, the series resumed in 1978 withAnnie Get Your Gun, starringLucie Arnaz. Beginning in the 1980s, the primary focus of the venue would change to concerts.[7]
In 1991 and 1992, under contract from concert promoter Ron Delsener, the theatre underwent an extensive renovation, adding a second level and increasing the capacity to 11,200 seats. The capacity was expanded again in 1998 to hold 15,000 seats.[8]
In 2002, the company of clothing designerTommy Hilfiger purchased the naming rights to the venue, renaming it "Tommy Hilfiger at Jones Beach Theater" for four years.[9] On April 13, 2006,Tommy Hilfiger's company, under new ownership, declined its option to keep the company's name on the theater, and naming rights were purchased by the camera companyNikon, which renamed the venue "Nikon at Jones Beach Theater".[10]
For a time the venue had a strict no-alcohol policy except in designated VIP boxes located behind the orchestra and the VIP tent area. Separate additional tickets are required to enter the popular VIP tent area.[11]
In 2009, Jones Beach introduced The Bay Stage, which has a general admission capacity of 5,000. The performances are staged behind the concessions on the theater property. The theater property is located a short distance from the VIP area but The Bay Stage events cannot be viewed or heard from the VIP area.[12]
In October 2012,Hurricane Sandy did major damage to the theater. Various structures were destroyed and much of the lower part of the arena was flooded, including the lower section of seats which were flooded more than halfway up.[13] The venue reopened on May 31, 2013, after a $20 million rehabilitation project.[14]
Starting January 2017, Jones Beach Theater will undergo a million dollar renovation plan, including energy-efficient LED lighting, more cafes, larger concourses for less crowding and more. Nikon's naming rights contract expired at the end of 2016, and in February 2017, New York health systemNorthwell Health purchased the naming rights to the venue, revealing the new name - "Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater."[15] The three-year deal includes an option for two additional years.
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